And the Winner Is…
Louis goes for the Round 1 victory but scratched after sinking the 8 ball.
***For this post, text in black is narrated by Louis while text in purple represents comments by Char.***
The Prologue:
For three weeks now, we’ve had to endure gloating posts from Char regarding her billiards victories. Uh Huh, you know that’s right! *said with hand on hip, head shaking, attitude and and smile* To read her posts, you’d think she had been running the tables on me. Admit it already!! I was!!! Much of her wording was filled with overconfidence, in my humble opinion. Yeah? Alrighty then….. We’ll see ’bout that!
First, there was the impromptu challenge on her 39th Birthday weekend. What Char neglected to say about that particular challenge is that we had been playing pool prior to that evening and I was winning most every time. Yes, the matches were close – but I was indeed winning them. My peoples, I do believe Louis must have hit his head again. Don’t worry, I’ll keep a close eye on him. During this particular challenge, I noticed Char stepped up the competition a notch or two. I didn’t complain about the outcome – but I did request a Rematch.
The Rematch was held and it was obvious from the start that our competitive natures were on full alert. We were both looking to win – and win convincingly. But that just didn’t happen – the night ended after I scratched leaving Char with an open shot at the 8 ball. So while she rightfully claimed victory, WOOOHOOOO!!!!! You KNOW that’s right!!!! You finally admit DEFEAT! YES! YES!! YES!!!!!! there was still too much unsettled. It was like listening to the hype from two boxers trash talking one another for weeks, only to have one claim the title after winning on a split decision. It was obvious another rematch was in order. Why for? Couldn’t handle getting beat by your wife? HA! HA!!
This second rematch ended in a draw as there was confusion regarding an illegal shot at the 8 ball (an illegal shot CHAR took, by the way). Whatever…… you said I won at the time so I am still holding on to that win!!!
So it has come down to this. Char and I agreed to settle this once and for all in a best of 7 pool challenge. Both of us entered the competition promising to come out on top….
The Main Event:
Round 1 began with me running the table on her. All Char could do was watch as I sank solid after solid. OK folks…. click here to look at my pics. Do I *look* as if all I could do was watch my handsome husband win? It was certainly looking like this would be my night when, after clearing my balls from the table, I was left with an easy shot to sink the 8 ball in the corner pocket. I did indeed sink the 8 ball… and unfortunately the cue ball with it. Teeheeheeheeeheeeeee *laughing loud and feeling proud!!!*
Char took the early lead after stealing the victory from my hands. But I wasn’t worried – the way I was playing I felt I could afford to give up a game.
Louis takes an easy shot.
Round 2 began quite differently from Round 1. Char pretty much did to me what I was doing to her in Round 1. But I held onto my hope that she would finish the same way I did as well. Unfortunately for me, that did not happen. She sank the 8 ball and went up 2-0. It was clear that she was starting to get that over-confidence in her demeanor again so I was preparing myself for a rapid surprise comeback.
If I was going to make a comeback it needed to be now. Being down 2-0 was bad but being down 3-0 would be unbearable. For example, as of this writing no baseball team has ever come back in a Best of 7 World Series after being down 0-3. So I knew I had to make my move…
And with this in mind, Round 3 began…
Many of Char's shots were so close - like this one. I was careful not to breathe too hard for fear the 10 ball might sink into the hole before I could take my next shot.
Char started Round 3 with a series of great shots but I quickly answered back to even it up. With the pressure on, this was a close match. As the round came to a close, Char was left shooting for the 8 ball while I had one ball left on the table. I had an easy shot to sink my final ball, and it looked like I’d be left with a relatively easy shot at the 8 ball to take the win.
Unfortunately, I once again scratched after sinking my final ball, leaving Char with a ball in hand shot to win Round 3. WOOOOHOOO! I win!! I win!!! I win!!!! You got beat by a gi-irl! You got beat by your wi-ife!! *insert “Char jiggy dance” while holding my pool stick up in VICTORY*
A moment ago, I mentioned that no team as of this writing has ever come back in a Best of 7 World Series after being down 0-3. That’s true… for the World Series. But in 2004, the Red Sox did come back in the American League playoff series after being down 0-3. They went on to beat the Yankees 4 games to 3 in that series. (they would have never done that with the Mets) So I still had hope. But things were admittedly looking grim for me. *sad…..insert Char’s infamous puppy-dog whimper on your behalf*
Round 4 would turn out to be my comeback game. Something had to happen here. No way was I going to go down 4-0. Char held her own and it was a close match throughout. Neck and neck like a lot of our games. It ended with Char taking a shot at the 8 ball, missing, and scratching. *insert Char’s sad puppy dog howl now on her own behalf* *whimpers in silence so that her loving husband will never know she felt a little defeated…. but only for a moment! PAYBACK TIME!
Char is feeling great after going up 3-0.
My comeback was established and the night stood at 3-1. Round 5 was one of the more interesting matches of the night. Early in the game Char scratched, and with ball in hand I set the ball and went for a corner pocket shot. I sank the shot with ease before realizing… it was Char’s ball! It was a PERFECTLY PERFECT shot too! Determined not to let my comeback slip away after that embarrassing shot, I held on and won Round 5 with a nice bank shot. I brought the 8 ball, which was resting on the far rail, all the way back down the table into a corner pocket. It’s true folks. He did. Now let’s all give Louis a big hand and all together yell out “way to go, Louis!! You actually won one!!!” *grin* No, seriously, he deserves a good pat on the back for this win.
Things had clearly turned around and the score now stood at 3-2. Round 6 was upon us. All I had to do was win this one and we’d be tied at 3 games apiece.
I can’t tell you exactly what happened during Round 6 (partly because I’m trying to block it from my memory) but I do know that I had three balls left on the table and Char had one. I was feeling pressure and was lining up to take my shots. I thought I could get in at least two and my goal would be to leave her having to shoot from behind my ball. Somehow, I missed that first critical side pocket shot and left Char a chance at her last remaining ball… which she sunk. The 8 ball was across the table from Char’s cue ball and it wasn’t a clear shot. I figured I’d have one more chance to comeback.
Louis can't believe the loss in Round 6.
I figured wrong.
Before I even knew she was shooting, Char sank the 8 ball and won Round 6. The final tally for the night – Char wins 4 games to 2. *nuff said*
OK – we both entered into this competition stating that we’d settle the score and declare the pool champ with no whining and no excuses this time. So I’ll accept the results just as they are. Char won the event fair and square. *Insert Char VICTORY dance and howls of pure delight!*
But least she forget… we own a pool table now… and I’ll be back to challenge her for the title soon…
And I shall continue to win….. Baby, you met your match!!! 
*** Photos from the event are posted here ***
Epilogue:
Dear reader, certainly by now you can see what I mean by Char’s overconfidence. I readily admitted my defeat – and I accurately portrayed each round with my color commentary. A cursory review of our pool playing posts do not back up her presumptuous comments.
Let’s review: All of our previous challenges went down to the wire – we played neck and neck. The final games were ending either with me scratching on the 8 ball or me scratching on my final ball and leaving her a wide open shot at the 8 ball. And when that didn’t happen, we wound up with no clear winner due to an illegal shot. So we agree to a Best of 7 Challenge and the results are documented above. Of her 4 victories, 2 of them were due to me scratching and one was neck and neck throughout. Only one game – the final round – was a clear knockout punch. And for this, she makes such claims as “Baby, you met your match,” and “I shall continue to win.” Not to mention her “you got beat by a girl” taunt!
My final thoughts… Char, you just happened to get lucky this time in the middle of my comeback and you got me while I was having one really bad game. I admit – you won the challenge. But don’t get to comfy with the championship – I’ll be ready for you next time…
Char’s reply: This gal shall continue to win…no matter what you challenge! Oh, and sweetheart, have I told you lately how much I love you? Have I told you how amazingly wonderful you are? Have I told you how much I adore you? Have I told you how thrilled I am to be your wife and have you as my loving husband? What we have is something more special than words can describe. Oh, how unbelievably BLESSED we are to have one another and our 3 beautiful children! People….. our challenges are all fun and laughter but our love is most intense and will be forever. Our honeymoon will never end! I love you babe! Always and Forever. To the moon and back.
*** The next pool competition can be viewed by clicking here!
